Card tray

ABSTRACT

A tray for containing a quantity of data processing type cards is provided with a removable partition member which is mounted for displacement in the tray to engage the cards at selected locations. The lower portion of the partition member slides in a through slot in the bottom of the tray, and a series of teeth on the tray bottom are engaged by releasable catch means on the partition member to lock the partition in preselected locations.

United States Patent [191 Schoenly CARD TRAY Alfred R. Schoenly, Warminster, Pa.

Scriptomatic, lnc., Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed: Jan. 4, 1973 Appl. N0.: 320,920

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 126,540, March 22, 1971, abandoned.

Inventor:

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 220/223 Int. Cl 865d 1/24; B65d l/26 Field of Search 220/221, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l2/l902 Yawman ..220/22.4 8/l9l3 Sampson..... 220/223 Oct. 21, 1975 [325,537 l2/l9l9 Ringler 220/2243 l,438,385 l2/l922 Lehman 220/224 3,035,537 5/l962 Schade 220/225 3,547,3ll 12/1970 Van Buren 220/223 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John W. Logan, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A tray for containing a quantity of data processing type cards is provided with a removable partition member which is mounted for displacement in the tray to engage the cards at selected locations. The lower portion of the partition member slides in a through slot in the bottom of the tray, and a series of teeth on the tray bottom are engaged by releasable catch means on the partition member to lock the partition in preselected locations.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CARD TRAY This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 126,540, filed Mar. 22, I971 now abandoned.

The present invention relates to card filing apparatus, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a portable card tray for containing cards of the data processing type.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel card tray which is constructed of relatively low cost, lightweight materials and which is particularly suited for storing data processing type cards.

As another object, the present invention provides an improved card tray which is of relatively simple but rugged construction and which is economical to manufacture.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view with portions broken away of a card tray embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card tray illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary inverted plan view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken along lines 4-4 and 55, respectively, of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

F IG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the catch means released from the teeth to permit rearward movement of the card follower.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a card tray 10 embodying the present invention. As may be seen therein, the tray comprises a container 11 having upstanding side walls l2, 12; end walls 13, I3; and a bottom wall 14. In the present instance, the container 1] is of sufficient depth so as to cause a quantity of cards C (shown in broken lines) to project upwardly a slight distance above the top edges of the walls 12 and 13, and the container 11 has a width corresponding substantially to the width of the cards C.

In order to store the cards C in an upright position, there is provided in the container 11 a movable card follower which slides in a slot 14a extending longitudinally of the bottom wall 14. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the card follower 15 extends widthwise of the container 11 and projects in an upright fashion from the bottom wall 14 with the upper portion 15a of the member inclining rearwardly at a slight angle. Shoulder means, in the present instance a pair of gussets l6, 16 (FIG. 2) are spaced above the upper side of the bottom wall 14. The card follower is reinforced by a pair of triangular ribs 17, 17 extending upwardly from the gussets l6, 16 along the rear of the card follower and disposed adjacent and parallel to the side walls 12, 12. Preferably the container 11 and the card follower 15 are molded from any suitable plastic material.

For the purpose of limiting upward displacement of the card follower 15 in the slot 14a, flange means, in the illustrated embodiment a rectangular flange element 20, is provided on the lower end of the card follower 15. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the flange element 20 extends forwardly and rearwardly of the card follower 15 and has edges 20a, 20a which extend at right angles to the card follower 15. Guide means, in the illustrated embodiment a pair of raised tracks 21, 21 are provided on the underside of the bottom wall 14 spaced outwardly of the slot 14a. The tracks engage the edges 20a, 20a of the flange element 20 to prevent the card follower from twisting during movement therein. Also, it is to be noted that the bottom wall 14 is recessed upwardly from the bottom edges of the side and end walls 12 and 13 a distance which is slightly greater than the thickness of the flange element 20 so as to permit the card follower to be displaced in the slot 14a when the container 11 is positioned on a flat surface.

The card follower 15 is removable from the container 11. To this end, the slot has a laterally enlarged portion 14b adjacent one end wall, in the illustrated embodiment the left end wall. The width of the enlargement 14b corresponds to the dimension between the edges 20a, 20a of the flange element 20 and the enlargement 14b extends away from the end wall 13 a distance which is slightly less than the dimension of the flange element 20 between its front and rear edges 20b, 20b. Thus, in order to remove the card follower 15 from the container 11, the card follower is pivoted clockwise when the flange element 20 registers with the slot enlargement 14b. The enlargement 14b is located toward the front of the container 11 to prevent disengagement of the card follower 15 from the container 11 in normal usage.

The card follower 15 may be positioned at selected locations in the container 11 and for this purpose, catch means is provided. As may be seen in FIG. I, the catch means includes an arm 25 extending rearwardly from the lower portion of a lever 30 spaced rearwardly of the partition member 15 and mounted thereto by hinge means which includes lower and upper flexible hinge elements 31 and 32, respectively, which are interconnected with and extend between the rear surface of the vertical wall of the card follower l5 and the front surface of the lever 30. The arm 25 has a downtumed terminus 26 engaging between adjacent teeth 27, 27 located on the upper side of the bottom wall 14 and extending the full length of the bottom wall adjacent both side walls. In the illustrated embodiment, each tooth has a triangular cross-section with a surface 270 inclining upwardly and forwardly to matingly engage a similarly inclined surface on the terminus 26. The teeth preferably terminate inwardly of the side walls of the container so that the edges of the bottom of the cards rest on a smooth surface portion of the bottom wall to prevent undue abrasion of the cards.

The downtumed terminus 26 of the arm 25 is biased into engagement with the teeth. To this end, the spaced apart flexible hinge elements 31 and 32 normally urge the arm 25 downwardly toward the teeth. In order to facilitate disengagement of the arm terminus 26 from between the teeth 27, 27, a rearwardly extending lip 36 is provided at the upper edge of the lever 30, and a protrusion 38 having an upwardly open depression is provided in the upper portion 15a of the card follower 15. In the present instance, the protrusion 38 is spaced upwardly of the lip 36 and it is located so as to be readily gripped between the fingers. A lifting movement by the fingers beneath the lip 36 will move the entire lever 30 and catch means upwardly and inwardly thereby disengaging the terminus 26 from the teeth 27 and permitting free forward and rearward movement of the card follower 15 within the card tray 10.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that an improved card tray has now been provided for the data processing, address and like cards.

The card tray of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, being fabricated of low cost plastic materials, and the card tray is relatively lightweight and readily portable.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable card tray, comprising: a container having upstanding side walls and front and rear end walls defining an enclosure and having bottom wall segments spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the side and end walls and extending inwardly from the side walls toward each other to define therebetween a slot extending longitudinally of the container; a card follower carried in said container for engaging cards at selected locations therein, said card follower having shoulder means on its lower portion spaced above the upper side of said bottorntwall segments and flange means spaced from said shoulder means disposed in engagement with the underside of said bottom wall segments, a series of teeth formed on the upper side of each said bottom wall segments spaced inwardly from the side walls with each tooth in said series having a surface inclining toward said card follower, a catch member carried by said card follower, said catch member including an arm extending rearwardly of said card follower, outer side edge portions of said arm engaging against the upper surface of said bottom wall segments outwardly of said series of teeth to support said card follower in said container and maintain said flange means in engagement with the under side of said bottom wall segments, said arm having between said outer side edges, a depending terminus shaped to engage between adjacent teeth in said series with said terminus having an inclined surface to mate with the inclined surfaces on said series of teeth, an upstanding lever on said catch member arm positioned forwardly of said terminus and projecting upwardly in spaced relation with said card follower, a first flexible web extending generally parallel to the bottom wall interconnecting the lower edge of said card follower with the lower end of said lever, and a second flexible web extending between and interconnected with said card follower and said lever above said first flexible web, said first and second flexible webs resiliently urging said catch member arm terminus into engagement with said teeth and the outer edge portions of said arm into engagement with said bottom wall segments.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end and side walls depend below said bottom wall a distance corresponding to at least the thickness of said flange means and including guide means spaced laterally of said slot on the underside of said bottom wall segments for engaging the side edges of said flange means to guide said card follower during movement in the slot.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slot has a laterally enlarged portion extending a predetermined distance from said front end wall, and wherein said flange means has a lateral dimension corresponding substantially to the dimension of the lateral enlargement of the slot and said flange means extends forwardly and rearwardly of said card follower and has an overall dimension greater than said predetermined distance, so that the card follower may be disengaged and withdrawn from the container upon pivotal movement toward the catch member when its flange means registers with the slot enlargement. 

1. A portable card tray, comprising: a container having upstanding side walls and front and rear end walls defining an enclosure and having bottom wall segments spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the side and end walls and extending inwardly from the side walls toward each other to define therebetween a slot extending longitudinally of the container; a card follower carried in said container for engaging cards at selected locations therein, said card follower having shoulder means on its lower portion spaced above the upper side of said bottom wall segments and flange means spaced from said shoulder means disposed in engagement with the underside of said bottom wall segments, a series of teeth formed on the upper side of each said bottom wall segments spaced inwardly from the side walls with each tooth in said series having a surface inclining toward said card follower, a catch member carried by said card follower, said catch member including an arm extending rearwardly of said card follower, outer side edge portions of said arm engaging against the upper surface of said bottom wall segments outwardly of said series of teeth to support said card follower in said container and maintain said flange means in engagement with the under side of said bottom wall segments, said arm having between said outer side edges, a depending terminus shaped to engage between adjacent teeth in said series with said terminus having an inclined surface to mate with the inclined surfaces on said series of teeth, an upstanding lever on said catch member arm positioned forwardly of said terminus and projecting upwardly in spaced relation with said card follower, a first flexible web extending generally parallel to the bottom wall interconnecting the lower edge of said card follower with the lower end of said lever, and a second flexible web extending between and interconnected with said card follower and said lever above said first flexible web, said first and second flexible webs resiliently urging said catch member arm terminus into engagement with said teeth and the outer edge portions of said arm into engagement with said bottom wall segments.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end and side walls depend below said bottom wall a distance corresponding to at least the thickness of said flange means and including guide means spaced laterally of said slot on the underside of said bottom wall segments for engaging the side edges of said flange means to guide said card follower during movement in the slot.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slot has a laterally enlarged portion extending a predetermined distance from said front end wall, and wherein said flange means has a lateral dimension corresponding substantially to the dimension of the lateral enlargement of the slot and said flange means extends forwardly and rearwardly of said card follower and has an overall dimension greater than said predetermined distance, so that the card follower may be disengaged and withdrawn from the container upon pivotal movement toward the catch member when its flange means registers with the slot enlargement. 